Our Story

In 2003, this site of an ancient iron age roundhouse settlement and holy well, which had been neglected for years, called to Rachel, David and young family to be brought back to life. They along with help from the local community, set about planting thousands of trees, creating ponds, natural buildings and gardens. Through this, out a desert of open grassland, devoid of birds and wildlife, the morning chorus is now a joy! The land has become an oasis for both wildlife and humans. The land healed the people who lived and visited and the people healed the land.

Guests shared what a relief it was to enter this "nature sanctuary", away from the rat race and technological bombardment, a place where they could unwind and spend quality, unspoilt and uninterrupted time with themselves, each other, their family, and nature. They called it a beautiful retreat space...

Those of us who live on the land now share a common vision and heart-felt purpose; we are choosing to live simple, happy, connected, authentic lives, where Spirit is at the centre of all things. Together we are learning to follow the ancient nature-based teachings of peoples who have stayed connected to Earth and Spirit, and who have given us tools for living together harmoniously, lovingly and honestly. We are on a pilgrimage towards re-membering who we truly are and experiencing the joy of living from our hearts with humility and gratitude. This is all a work in progress, and we frequently struggle and get lost. This is the beauty of the Medicine Teachings, to have the map to bring us back from forgetting, to a place of connection.

We celebrate this precious gift of life throughout the wheel of the year, through ceremony, sacred singing, dancing, fires, feasting and communal living. It is our intention to honour the ancestors of this land and the ancient sites around, the ancestors that lived in harmony with the cycles of nature.

Through the nature-based medicine teachings we are creating structures and practices to support our evolving community to grow in love and consciousness, to care for one another, and support one another to thrive and grow, through challenges and breakthroughs, just as we are.

We are journeying to become co-creators of a conscious way of living on the Earth as Sacred Humans in these challenging times. Out of this learning adventure, we invite you to join us as we live and grow, taking time out from the demands of " modern life" to connect more deeply to your true nature.

Who started it...

Rachel Smart

I co-birthed Living Well Centre in 2003. I am a mother, daughter, friend and lover of people and the power of nature! I am in love with life and choose to live it to the full and share this love with others. I offer life-affirming shamanic teachings, guidance, shamanic healing, transformative massage, celebrancy for rites-of-passage, healing retreats and ceremonial healing pilgrimages to nearby ancient sacred sites.